JulyMary Eiloart and Harold Lang go to Los Molinos for two weeks, clearing the salt bush on Terrace 1

7th JulyFoundation of Sunseed

AugustStart of a joint project with up to 4 working visitors

autumnGuy Norman asks to be the first manager: he wants a research centre paid by grants, not WV's. He leavesMarchSteve Samson (long-time member of Green Deserts) becomes manager

summerSteve Samson builds the room over the kitchen and negotiates the use of Geoff's House. He also rebuilds broken roofs in the houses and establishes the gardens. Space for 12 Working Visitors and 8 voluntary staff

Green Deserts demands to find a new Spanish-speaking manager. Refusal, so GD withdraws. They start using the name "Sunseed Desert Technology"1988Graham Savage becomes manager of Sunseed after a 3 month assignment for a project at the AT Department

ArticlesPhotosAlmonds planted out with striped rabbit guards-July 1988Land belonging to SDT along barrancover-July 1988September 1988Datura arborea- September 19881989Phase II of the "Drought Defeaters Project": planting out of larger numbers of the eight species that were performing best in Phase I (among them Acacia saligna, Acacia salicina and Prosopis chilensis)

Gaye Ekkus buys and loans her house and her landThe number of bed-spaces goes up to 33ArticlesPhotos30th January 1989January 1989The eighties saw the recently formed charity Green Deserts establishing tree planting schemes in the Sudan in conjunction with the Sudanese Forestry Department, and showing the benefits to be gaines from such projects. Wanting to expand their research base, a centre was set up here at Los Molinos in 1986 to explore methods of halting the desertification process.

With dwindling financial reserves, Green Deserts found it could not maintain its interests both in Spain and Sudan. Deciding to concentrate its efforts in Africa, it handed over the running of the Spanish research centre in 1986 to its sister charity, Sunseed Desert Technology.

The first two years saw the development of a basic infrastructure, the renovation of Geoff's House and the "Main" House, and the clearance and repair of terraces for food production. The third house, Isabella's, was purchased and renovated in 1988, and the project first realised its absolute capacity. From a single manager and a handful of working volunteers in the beginning, the numbers grew gradually, until 2½ years later the kitchen was straining to feed almost 50 mouths in one sitting.

Consolidatory work was then possible, improving the surroundings to make life here more pleasant. More concentration could also be given to Appropriate Technology projects, such as solar collectors, cookers and stills- and to the tree research.

The arid land tree species trials were begun in the spring of 1988 by James Mayger, who helped establish a database, and from this select suitable species for the trial. Links were first made with HDRA (Henry Doubleday Research Association) who agreed to participate in the trial, providing seed and support. Germination and nursery construction was carried out by James Mayger and Sally Durham; and nursery establishment monitored by Nick Pasiecznik and David Wilkinson. The first plantings, in autumn 1988, were followed by ecological surveys and soil samplings of the sites planted, and those earmarked for further planting in autumn 1989, conducted by David Wilkinson, Rose Lennard, Gordon Jenkins, Godfried Scheur and Adam Jackson. Adam Jackson was mainly responsible for the establishment of the 1989 HDRA species trials; but planted by Fransje de Waard and Nick Pasiecznik, who also in this last quarter have initiated many more projects- greatly diversifying the tree research at Los Molinos.

Tree Projects, Quarterly Review October 1989-January 1990The end of a decade1990JanuarySemi-sealed growing, construction of the compost toilet

AprilShirley Savage comes to Sunseed to join her husband GrahamArticlesPhotosIsabella's kitchen- 1990On July 3rd 1988, on a blistering hot day, I first wandered into Los Molinos hoping to carry out tree research during the summer towards my agroforestry degree. Two years later, this report now completed, the time has come for me to leave. Expecting a running research project, I found a selection of seedlings and microcatchments- and I was the research manager (project builder, part-time gardener). The species selection trials took place in the next few months, the planting of the first 600 trees took place that October, a week after I had to return to Bangor to complete my honours degree course. I returned three times for short periods to evaluate the progress of the trials before returning full time, one year on.In the two years research, an article is to be published in an international forestry journal from results of our species selection trials, and six other projects have begun covering many aspects of dryland rehabilitation, and thanks to this document, people are now able to read about this work.The project aims to be able to provide a place whereby people can gain experience in arid conditions. The year I have spent in Los Molinos has provided me with valuable experience; in practical experimentation, as well as dealing with the harsh environment, poor communications, bad management, few funds and little infrastructure and support. But the work got done, the trees in the ground, and the results on paper. The job is not easy, but very rewarding- my thoughts and best wishes go to my replacement Ivan Courtier, to continue the good work and spread the "tree feeling".Adios Los Molinos,

Nick Pasiecznik, February-June 1990 "The Tree Scene" Preface1991The purpose of the Phase III Planting is to re-establish an area of indigenous, scrub woodland (the climax community), on a piece of abandoned, degraded land using exotic, multipurpose trees as nurse species.

Phase I was a series of three dryland species selection trials testing a variety of indigenous and exotic tree species. The second phase, undertaken one year after the first Phase I Planting was a species growth trial using the eight best performing trees from the first year.

This phase is the culmination of the previous three years work, using the knowledge gained to select the species involved in it.

In order to attract wider interest to the scheme, the potential for an economic reward in terms of sustainable yield from the woodland is necessary.

The proposed site lies within a recently designated Paraje Natural (a category of environmentally protected area) and permission will have to be given by the Medio Ambiente before work can begin. Given the nature of the scheme it seems unlikely that this will cause any problems.

Ivan Courtier, Tree Research Advisor, August 1991Proposal for Phase III Planting: a dryland rehabilitation studyArticlesPhotosEucalyptus- June 19911992Shirley Savage becomes a staff member

Vegan food

Tradition of Sunday pizzas, some with cheese (the only non-vegan food most weeks)

autumnPhase III: mixed planting of the best performing species from previous trials together with four indigenous or naturalised species (including carob, aleppo pine and pistacia lentiscus)

Trial in which "exotic" (overseas) acacias "nurse" slower-growing native trees, by providing shade and windbreaks and sheding leaves which then nourish other trees

Start of the development of an adobe cooker

Start of building of solar cookers

ArticlesPhotosIan clearing Gaye's Terrace- June 1992Far Terrace, July 1992 Corn, squash, alfalfa- July 1992Main Garden, July 1992Sorbas, town square- July 19921993Winter 1992/1993Terrace walls collapse below the main road through the village because of the rain

JanuaryA new placement scheme was formalised, volunteers were divided into full-time volunteers (at least five weeks) and part-time ones

No more pee buckets; introduction of pee-bidons (closed containers to collect urine)

Construction of a solar bread oven that can cook all the bread on sunny days

Building of a deposito with filters for drinking water in order to drink rain

Children from Sorbas school took part in a joint tree planting project: the roots of the trees were then “infected” by particular fungi and bacteria (mycorrhizae and rhizobia) to recreate a mutually beneficial relationship that might had been lost

End of the link with Vabre (France) for mismatch of aimsArticlesPhotosTerrace 5, Alan 's land after clearing and digging-August 1993Lara (Varoja), Andy, Sarah Blowers and Paul- 1993Sarah was project cook and went onto many piers-with the donkey (not Piers with berets!)Nell, Pete and Cath- December 1993With its average rainfall of about 300 mm, scorching dry summers and the absence of tree cover from most of its surface, Almeria is an obvious place for desertification research. The plant life is interesting and can be strikingly beautiful at certain times of the year, but it is an impoverished and degrades scrub vegetation- a classic desertification/erosion situation, with over-grazing and possible climate change implicated.It is the sort of situation which is tragically destroying environments and people in many drought-affected countries; there is a need for a sustainable tree or shrub cover over large areas to protect watersheds, control erosion, and to improve soil fertility and land productivity. Conditions are very harsh; a severe test for any reforestation or re-vegetating scheme.There can be no one simple answer to this complex problem, but Almería is fairly typical of wide areas round the Mediterranean. Spanish researchers are playing an important part in international efforts to combat desertification; we are learning from them, and believe our results will contribute to anti-desertification work in southern Europe and North Africa.

Paul Hanson starts working in the gardensJo and Philip (C&M team) leave

AugustFour people cook all their meals and bread on a solar cooker for a week

summerDevelopment of links with the local community: Spanish visitors, the Caving Club, regular Sunday afternoon football matches against the Sorbas teamVolleyball match with local people during Sorbas village fiesta

Weekly Choir (Los Mol Choir) and Salsa and Merengue dance classesRio de Aguas Celtic band takes part in the La Mela festival

No cook in summer: volunteers cooked18th JulyFires in summer: one reached a tree planting site in Aguarico and a few saplings burned

AugustFour people cook all their meals and bread on a solar cooker for a week"Living The Life" experience for visitors: survival challenge (no shelter available, limited water, use of gas and fire prohibited for cooking purposes)

Much of the administrative and financial management work is transferred from the UK office (Tim and Mary Eiloart) to Spain

8th OctoberConference about desertification in Almeria province, organized by Sunseed with the support of Sorbas CouncilPresentation of the initiative "East-Almeria Community Forest Project", offered "veggy tapas" with garden produce

before ChristmasVladimir from Arte Elemental, a community practising and teaching permaculture in Cádiz, comes to stay for a weekArticlesPhotosAguarico- Easter 1994Fire- 18th July 1994Attempting to create a fire break to divert the fire from the new plantationThe fire break is abandoned as a wall of flames approachesThe fire break ten minutes after it was abandonedThe helicopter managed two such passes (very effective)to aid five fighters before it broke downThe fire has passed and is continuing upthe Aguarico valley towards MarchalicoSpring 1994Pili Araújo, co-head of the Bio section, responsible for tree propagationDave Brown, heading the Bio section, particularly land reclamation and agro-forestry projectsDilys Beaumont, Household Coordinator with responsibility for health and safety mattersGeoff Beaumont, Appropriate Technology headRobert Beaumont, 18 month old project mascotRendt Gorter, Deputy Manager coordinating research and educationLiz Lance, Appearance Communications Eucation Residents ExperienceGraham (still the) Savage, Project ManagerShirley Savage, Accounts/AdministrationNell Williams, Gardener

Trustees:Arnold Pease, all Bio mattersTim EiloartStaff1995FebruaryParticipation to the Carnival in Sorbas with some activities organized by the EPF Department: street theatre, football, stalls (veggie tapas and information on solar cookers); games, races, bouncy castle and donkey rides for the kids; a giant paella for 500 people, performances from the Sunseed choir and musicians; a procession through town led by a Sunseed banner "Que vivan los árboles- Vamos a poner verde a Sorbas!" (Long live trees- We're going to regreen Sorbas); evening disco Football match Spain vs England (Sorbas vs Sunseed): 1-3

The first Sunseed Irrigation Song Contest organized by FTV Jamie Spencer

2,200 trees planted in Aguarico

MayInvited by the Itili Women's Training Centre near Mbeya (Tanzania)- Reverend Simalike Mwantila- to show how the solar cookers may be madeCookers built and demonstrated also in five other centres in Tanzania (Maranthana Nursery Centre in Soweto, Mvumi mission, Mvumi Makulu, Dodoma...)Also invited by the Central Diocese of the Anglican church in Buiguiri summerA team of volunteers from Sunseed goes to Tanzania for solar cookers trials

The Hotel El Nuevo Puntazo in Mojácar donates 14 of their old beds, tables, chairs, stools shelves and bathroom cabinets with mirrors and lights to Sunseed

Mar and Jesús from the magazine "Más allá" spend a day at Sunseed

Two women from The Findhorn Foundation in Scotland spend a day at Sunseed; later donation

NovemberGeoff and Dilys Beaumont and Jill Watson go to Africa for other demonstrations of the solar cookerArticlesPhotosWinter 1994-1995

The Andalucian government awards Sunseed a five-year grant of £ 4,500 for Aguarico

Solar panel fixed at Isabella's for 40% of the price

Planting of 3,500 trees at Aguarico

MayDebra Smith arrives at Sunseed: acquisition of a milk float thanks to her

Tour of Sunseed by 48 pensioners from Alicante's Gardeners Circle

summerA team of volunteers from Sunseed goes to Tanzania for solar cookers trials

Solar Family: group of 5 people who solar cook all their meals7th JulyBig party for the 10th anniversary celebration of Sunseed: two exhibitions, in Almeria and Mojácar, and a Tanzania slide show in Sorbas (planned)

Modifications to the ram pump: delivery flow of 6 litres per minute at Isabella 's, 4 at the Roadhouse, 3.5 at Hanna's Place

Attended the conference of the European Committee for Solar Cooker Research in Frankfurt

Acquisition of a Singer hand-sewing machine

Facelift of Geoff's and Gaye 's houses

15th DecemberInaugural meeting of the new trust set up to further Sunseed's work in Tanzania (SunTan)Trustees: Dilys Beaumont, Anne Evans, Olwyn Fonseca, Simba Mbenna and Jill WatsonArticlePhotosStaff June 1996Sunseed 's 10th anniversaryThe milk float1997Sunseed 's Carob Year

Tree nursery in Aguarico extended by 24 beds: over 5000 young trees

Completion of new hydroponics-and-waste-water treatment system

Introduction of cheese and eggs

AprilStaff meetings replaced by full project/community meetings

summerA team of 12 volunteers from Sunseed goes to Tanzania for solar cookers trials: Mbeya, Dodoma. Difficult conditions due to the famine, but possible links with the village of Chimala

Interest for Solar Cookers International's "Cookit" cookers

Beginning of the process of registering in Tanzania as an NGO

Solar Family: group of 5 people who solar cook all their meals30th AugustSunseed 2nd Annual Solar Tea Party

last week of SeptemberStorm and flood: the old swimming pool disappears, but the flood gouges out a new natural pool below the nursery terraceWorks on the irrigation line, tunnels and pipes blocked: the whole community spends nearly four weeks clearing and diggingHuge help by a group from Bromley Field

DecemberWork on the Main House electrics: new system with new storage batteries, 500W of solar panels and rewiring of the entire houseNew roof of clear fibreglass panels installed at Geoff's House. Interior done up with a concrete floor and Yesoed walls

Christmas cards from Sunseed Tanzania designed by Jessie Plantaganet Ford, daughter of the trustee Ann Evans: they represent a baobab tree with a sun in its centreSunseed Memories 1996-98 Matt Easter, Bio, and Debra Easter (Smith), Household and Community

In 1996 the project was managed by Graham Savage. We had BIO, AT, Gardens, Education, Publicity and Fundraising (started in 1996), Household, Construction and Maintenance and Administration. Household became Household and Community. Bio was a two staff department.

There were only four houses occupied by staff and visitors: Geoff's house, Gaye's house, the Main House and Isabella's. Focus of much of the construction work was Isabella's, which was somewhat more delapidated than now. C&M was managed by Jenny Hall and then by Mehdi el Rahdi.

In The Bio department, work concentrated on growing the large number of indigenous seedlings to be transplanted to a site called Aguarico near Sorbas. We had two tree nurseries and lots of volunteers looking at germination techniques, different potting mixes and research intoi the effect of mycorrhizal innoculation of seedlings. We often did not have access to a vehicle, so walked to Aguarico and back carrying mattocks, from Los molinos to pre-dig planting pits. We planted over 5000 indigeous trees and shrubs at Aguarico, it has be be said with not the greatest survival rates! The Bio dept also built the Wastewater system for the first sime, using vertical and horizontal beds and growing crops hydroponically in some of the horizontal beds such as chickpeas and broad beans. We had a series of long term volunteers from Salford University. Including Jo who wheeled bidons of wastewater and urine up to Isabella's to put through an experimental system. Jo and Matt would even drink the resulting effluent to show it was safe.

The Education, Publicity and Fundraising Department was run by Paco and Paul Hanson in a split role with gardens. We fondly remember Paco being followed around the garden by his little black dog Carmencita. The dapartment was responsible for getting a milk float from the UK to Sorbas via a hairy journey from Almeria. Unfortunately an inability to get insurance meant that the milk float remained unused.

In Appropriate Technology the focus was on testing different types of solar cooker, particularly made out of Adobe. AT was co-ordinated by Pete Geddes and briefly by Columbiano and then Tamsin Tweddle. Pete also attempted to build a micro-hydro system for SDT. We often had whole meals cooked using solar cookers, that were sometimes eaten at Isabella's. On the roof of the Main House the AT dept built a solar oven for bread making. There was even a solar cookbook written.

At the far terrace we used an underground greenhouse to germinate seeds for both the gardens and the bio dept. I remember a glut of broad beans meaning more and more ingenious methods of cooking them were needed. Food highlights included curries and lentil pasties and there was the momentous introduction of cheese and eggs during 1997.

Project cats included Stevie who was blind, Dweezil and Albert and more latterly Pantera and Grey Cat. We also had upto eight chickens that provided a steady flow of eggs for a year or so and were housed a permaculture chicken house with a glass covered compartment for seedlings.

Our links with Africa were developing at a time when we had one computer that worked some of the time and no access to the internet like today. Sunseed Tanzania Trust split off which caused a fair amount of robust discussion and we had a sponsored visitor from Kenya called Simulike and latter Justin Chidawali from Tanzania who introduced mycorrhizal soil innoculation methods to communities in Tanzania through his role as a staff member for Sunseed Tanzania.Matt and Debra 's 1996-98 memoriesPhotosFebruary 19971998Project of developing Isabella's and the surrounding area into "The Appropriate Technology Centre"

Bio Department: Nursery capacity increased to 12,000 trees

Project of developing a Forest Garden in Gaye's Huerta (the site of the old Permaculture Garden)

Household with Debra Smith: decoration of the main room, building of a new seating area, cushion covers; new coat of paint in the office, permanent yeso shelves made from the partitioning wall

Establishment of contacts with development NGOs working in Africa and Asia

The Sunseed Tanzania Trust concludes, after 3 years, that the adobe solar cooker is not a technology which is likely to be adopted within rural Tanzanian communities in large numbers; work on alternative designs

First African volunteer at SunseedEnd of the contract for the use of Aguarico, the main tree planting site

Invitation from Radio Onda Mar Garrucha to talk on their Saturday morning show "La Caja de Pandora" ("Pandora's Box")

Locals in Sorbas still call Sunseed's people "The Flintstones"

Isabella's facelift and extension: building of a new kitchen for the solar-family

Developed link of AT Department with Box Aid, a British charity

Strengthened links of AT Depatment with Plataforma Solar, the experimental generating station near Tabernas; Tamsin Tweddell and Steffie invited to attend an international conference-and-training programme aimed at Europe's top students

Trustee Mike Bridgewater goes to Tanzania with his wife Bridget: he registers Sunseed Tanzania Trust as an NGO, find a site for the centre and appoints the first staff memberThey sign Agreements and Cooperation with several NGO and projects interested in alternative sources of fuel or other appropriate technology: Dodoma Development Association, Dodoma Environmental Trust, Dodoma Environmental Network, the Bishop of Dodoma. They visit many other projects: Foo Development Association in Kilimanjaro, TaTEDO and the Grass Roots Female Communicators Association (both in Dar-Es-Salaam), the Kagera Development and Credit Revolving Trust Fund. All groups interested in solar cookers and other similar technologies (hayboxes...).They adapt the design of solar cookers to use locally available materials (mainly plywood) and translate the instructions into Swahili

from August 1stTrustee Tim Eiloart visits South Africa and Kenya for 2 months (an orphanage at Kisumu, Kenya, as well)

NovemberFilmed a documentary for "Canal Sur" (Andalusian TV channel) on ecological projects in the south of Spain, starring new EPF-Head, Vik YoungReverend Simalike Mwantila, from the Women's Training Centre (Tanzania) visits Sunseed for 8 weeks

ArticlesPhotosGiles working on adobe solar still-March 1998Guy on guitar and Stevie, world famous deafblind cat(died in 2006)- March 1998Irrigation line, March 1998Tamsin Tweddell mixing solar cooked food-April 19981999Dry year: high death rate amongst Pinus halapensis plantings around Alan's land

Building of a substiantial support for the old grape vine in front of the house by FTV Simon Skerrit

Suggestion: stop research and switch emphasis to lifestyle. Rejected

STT: development of a new Domestic Energy Project to start in 2000 for three years, to introduce technologies for reducing fuel consumption to women in villages and town wards

STT Trustees Jill Watson and Olwyn Fonseca go to Tanzania where they visit Simalike and John Mwakakesya who runs the Maranaha Women's Centre and has started a new group at a village called Tukuyu. Workshops at all three centres, introducing the Cookit and the WonderbasketContacts with Rotary International, which supports solar cooking initiatives in several African countries, and the Evergreen Trust, an English-based agroforestry organization

7th MayThe ram pump breaks down: after investigation, it is discovered that a large toad had been sucked into the down pipe. To prevent this happening again, wine mesh is placed over the entrance

AugustNo C&M staff members for a few months. Adrian Windisch comes to Sunseed to work as C&M Coordinator

SeptemberUse of the solar cooker to cook for the whole project (more than 15 people)Articles2000Installation of a new solar dryer in the gardens (Diego II) by Pascal Dunning

Dry year: high death rate amongst Pinus halapensis plantings around Alan's land

Installed a new solar dryer on the visitors circuit: used for rapid drying of fresh foodstuffs to allow preservation

Photos2001Structural work by Construction and Maintenance continues at Isabella's: solar kitchen is up and running; newly furnished lounge area

AT Department: development of a simple, cheap solar cooker by Simeon Richards

MarchRepair, modification and reinstallation for one of the damaged Rutland wind turbines at Isabella's house by Josef ZeidlerNew solar water heating system on the kitchen roof by Zoe Whiteman and Duilio

First volunteer from Brazil: Duilio

MayInvited to participate in the 3rd conference on Agro-ecology, organized by Ingeniera Sin Fronteras at the University of Almeria

Gardens: experimentation in the use of aromatic plants as pest deterrents

Bio Department: arrangement of tree planting days with the school in Sorbas; collaboration with scientific community in Spain, pursuing their research into aiding tree growth by adding beneficial fungi (Mycorrhizae) to the roots of saplings. Links with a mycorrhizal research facility called El Zaidin in Granada and the Medio Ambiente tree nursery at RodalquilarEducational events: talk about the work of the International Red Cross in Afghanistan by Gavin McMillan (ex-Sunseeder)First-aid training session by working visitors Nic Damery and Tim Rumary

The chimney in Geoff's house gets moved to a central position by Paul Craske

summer1500 hayboxes installed in the Dodoma region (Tanzania's capital)Developed a form of heat retention cooker or haybox (called "Wonder basket"): shown off and sold at the annual Trade Fair in Dar-es-Salaam (10 sold and 30 ordered). The president of Tanzania and his wife visited the stand; Mrs Mkappa brought other groups to visit the stand

Attempt to revive Friends of Sunseed, a successful project in the past but fallen by the wayside in recent years

NovemberArticle about Sunseed published in "Integral magazine"

before ChristmasCooperation with a travelling French eco-caravan to put up a display of environmental technology in SorbasPhotosEagle 's or Monkey 's Head- July 2001 Al, Joanna, Frank, Maurice and Myriam-December 2001Autumn 2001

13th MarchSorbas primary school visits: children plant trees on parched ground near Los Molinos, learn about ways to reduce the demand for firewood, eat cookies baked in the solar ovenIn the following weeks someone from Sunseed go to the school to make presentations of seed kits to the children and to collect stories about the day to publish on the website

Development of a bicycle-powered cement mixer

Cut bramble, salt bush and caña; created new compost heaps and updated the meditation garden

Project of a compost toilet at Isabella's (with one chamber instead of the three of the existing Vietnamese-design toilets)

30% more than average rainfall: new trees planted in Alan's land (the dryland cropping site), such as olive and almond

A couple of pieces about Sunseed by BBC Radio Cambridge

Since AugustThe front of Isabella's covered with yeso, new windows fitted, new porch and shower area completed New chimney covered in yeso at Geoff's house and pergola. Finished the patio behind the main house

17th - 19th JanuaryMurcia Permaculture network visits Sunseed. On the 18th organized a public meeting in the town hall of Sorbas about the theme "Why grow organic products?"FTV Kristof de Rous directs and produces an 8 minute video-clip on Composting for the event

FebruaryRalph Middleton (C&M) leaves Sunseed

21st March44 ten-eleven year old from the Sorbas school visit. Activities: construct basic "Sunstar" solar cookers with carton, aluminium sheet and glass (AT), Nature Trial in the arboretum (Bio), visit of the Gardens. Given solar biscuits and cake

Renewal of the ram pump drive pipe: a time capsule added to one of the last bits of concrete to go into the tank, with the photo of some ram pump workers, a Sunseed leaflet and a ram pump leaflet.

Replacement of the roof of the double bedroom behind Isabella's. Geoff, an architect from Stroud, comes especially to help out with the roof after the publicity on the Sunseed website; Diego and Maria from Sorbas show how to tie the bamboo correctly

Sunseed wins the first prize of £ 300 in an "Energy Wise Cookbook" competition organized by an English NGO, Energy 21 with an entry on the solar dryer and the bouillon stock powder method used in Sunseed

Communal Sunseed patchwork curtain

Articles about Sunseed in Geographical magazine

Rik Humphreys, Lara Marsh and Carol Biggs interviewed by BBC Radio 4's Gardeners Question Time for the Christmas Special from Mojácar

29th April- 11th MaySeries of seminars hosted by Sunseed: "Environmental thinking, Our Ecological Footprint and The green dilemmas for the 21st century" and "Globalisation and Development issues"

summerNew logo by Keith Fenter: AT department likes the fact that it could be a cog as well as a sun

2nd - 5th SeptemberParticipation in the VII Encuentro Peninsular de Ecoaldeas, with a solar cooking workshop: people can build their own solar cooker but not bake bread because of windy and cloudy weather

SeptemberZena Wilmot presents her paper about mycorrhiza at the Congress of Ecological Agriculture held in Almeria

springCooking tests for the wood-burning stoves for Tanzania: volunteers Robert Sclademann and Nadia Von Benzon build a replica STT Mud Stove (STTMS) outside Isabella's and perform some WBTs (Wood-burning Test) on it

Zena Wilmot, the first Mycorrhiza project coordinator, goes to Burkina Faso to set up trials in collaboration with the CNSF (National Forestry Seed Centre) in 3 locations of increasing aridity: the capital, Ouagadougou, Kaya to the North and Dori further north still

JulySTT Trustees decide to end the partnership with DEMAT after working with them for 6 years

Isabella's houses roof is fixed

It is calculated that an average visitor of Sunseed reduces their home ecological footprint from 3:8 to 3:2

22nd MarchPlanned Water Day, coinciding perfectly with the UN World Water Day: talk on the themes of UN Water Day, tour of the irrigation line, quiz... but ironically, in the morning the tank was empty because of a problem with the ram pump system, so Sunseed Water Day events were cancelled and the morning was spent making a line of people forming a chain to carry buckets of water from the irrigation line up to fill the tank above the Main HouseWorld Water day celebrations were only postponed by one day

springCleaning of the Secret Garden

18th JuneEvent for the 20th Anniversary of Sunseed and Open Day: collect of some documentation (pictures, videos, posters) that showed life at Sunseed throughout the years. Around 30 visitorsParty in the evening in the Solar garden with all the neighbours from the village and some friends from the area

Fay Tuffen goes to Burkina Faso to analyze data. Designed a poster displaying the results of the trials, later presented at the International Conference on Mycorrhizas (Granada)July100 kids visit Sunseed. Tour of the gardens (irrigation line, solar kitchen, compost heaps, compost toilet, fruit trees and solar dryer) and tree nursery in the arboretum

January in the oasis is full of colour and life. In irrigated terrace gardens vegetables are growing beneath trees laden heavy with oranges, lemons and pomelos, a tangy, pithy fruit similar to a grapefruit. Below these terraces, a slow river is home to terrapins, frogs and grey-green snakes. The river emerges from the ground at ‘el Nacimiento’ (the Birth), flows though the bottom of the valley it gives life to, then all but disappears back into the ground as the valley rounds a bend towards the sea. The surrounding land, not irrigated by the ancient Moorish system of channels that carry water from the river to the lower terraces, is dry, harsh terrain turned to a near desert that stretches away in all directions from the tiny oasis valley.

I arrived in this oasis almost a year ago to work as a volunteer at Sunseed Desert Technology, an environmental project set in a once-abandoned village on the slopes above the river. The area, in Spain’s Almería province, is the hottest, driest corner of Europe. Desertification of the land through removal of trees, poor land and water management and erosion has created a landscape of rock, sparse vegetation and deeply eroded clefts in the hillsides. The project aims to develop, demonstrate and communicate accessible methods of living sustainably in arid and semi-arid environments.

The work of the project is very diverse, ranging from educating volunteers to composting organic waste and using reed beds to process waste water without chemicals. It also includes erosion management and tree planting on drylands, maintaining the traditional buildings using local materials, and research trials. Volunteers and staff live and work in four buildings, where power is generated by solar panels and river water for cleaning and showering is provided by means of a water-powered pump. The organic gardens managed by the project’s energetic gardener provide some of the food cooked daily in the project’s kitchen.

Originally from near Ashbourne, having volunteered on environmental projects in Derbyshire and Yorkshire, and after working in an Environment Agency office, I was looking forward last January to going out into the world to get some more practical experience. I spent three months in the spring at Sunseed working with staff and volunteers from all over the world, learning new skills and getting to know the challenges of living in an isolated valley, with no connection to external electricity grid, water supplies or sewage systems. I planted young trees from the project’s tree nursery in dry, stony soil above the houses, sewed seeds in healthy, organic soil in the gardens and prepared canes cut from the river to be used in replacing the roof of one of the houses. I was also able to work with the Coordinator of a long-term trial run in close association with similar work in Tanzania and Burkina Faso in Africa, also places where the trees that protected the land from the drying sun and winds have been removed. This trial investigates methods of using a natural fungus called Mycorrhiza, that helps plants to absorb nutrients and water from the soil, improving the plant’s chances of success in arid environments. My favourite job of all in hot weather was standing in the cool water of the irrigation channels, clearing mud and weeds to keep the water flowing to the village.

Like most longer-term volunteers at Sunseed I also had several specific jobs I took responsibility for. These were creating maps of Sunseed’s gardens with each fruit tree marked in place, creating a water-management strategy for the project, drafting an information booklet about water use and preparing activities for a workshop about water use for World Water Day in late March. In August, I returned to Sunseed to be a volunteer staff member, coordinating the Education, Publicity and Fundraising department. Like all volunteer staff, I work for my room, food and 25 Euros a week. The experience of living and working with many people dedicated to living sustainably is well worth the lack of financial reward.

The summer’s intense heat, the constant racket of cicadas and croaking frogs and late, warm, evenings sitting on the patio lit by the bright moon and starlight seem a long time ago now. The sunshine in January is warm enough to provide warm shower water from the solar water heaters, but nights in the desert are very, very cold. We are cosy in the project’s Main House though, where we have an efficient wood burning stove that releases it’s heat slowly through clay bricks and a system of air vents that carries the warmth to the bedroom upstairs. In the evenings, everyone gathers around the stove to eat a home-cooked meal and maybe enjoy a glass of wine or two from the local greengrocer. There is plenty of good conversation to enjoy, from discussing what kind of natural insecticides to use to stop ants eating newly sewed seeds, to debating what the mice in the compost toilet are really eating.

As well as rewarding work, we have lots of fun, volunteers often taking trips at weekends to climb mountains, or visit Spain’s beautiful cities. I’ve been lucky enough to see some of Spain’s well-celebrated fiestas in our tiny local town. Traditions such as the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ fiesta, Semana Santa parades and the annual bread-throwing festival are participated in with enthusiasm by the town’s residents.Now, at the start of another year, I am happy to have the chance to live and work at this special project, surrounded by enthusiastic, interesting people who all believe they can do something to reduce their own impact on the environment and help to care for the unique world we live in."A Desert Year" by Hazel Morley(EPF Coordinator)PhotosDaisie and LaniGaye 's Garden Mike and finished hayboxThe Secret GardenStaff and volunteersWinter 2006-2007Project Manager: Daphne Kamprad and Fay Tuffen (acting) Shirley Savage, Account and AdministrationTim Marcus, Webmaster

Start to buy wholemeal flour over white (have changed order accordingly), fruit and nuts over coffee and seasonal produce only

DecemberPatricia Cañas Rios arrives at Sunseed as EPF CoordinatorHosted a group of journalists from Madrid that are creating an Association (autogestion.tv) with a web page where to upload tutorials about sustainability; they come to film Sunseed's good practices for 3 days

Hi, my name’s Rob and I’m currently job-sharing the EPF and SL Co-Coordinator positions with Bex.

After studying geography at Oxford University, specialising in nomadic communities, I moved to London for a few years during which time I lived on a boat, unsuccessfully attempted an art foundation diploma, worked as a consultant for a private concierge company, then as a researcher for the Daily Mirror and BBC Radio 4, and travelled to Morocco, Russia and India. After 3 years on the Jubilee Line, and the prospect of returning yet again to university to study a MA in Social Anthropology, I decided to leave London in pursuit of greater independence, simplicity, autonomy and experiential learning over academic. My brother had visited Sunseed a few years before as a FTV - working mainly with the AT department - as part of a university placement and having heard his stories, decided to visit myself. I came as a FTV with the intention of staying as long as necessary before I was offered a job…it took 2 months!

On a day-to-day level I look after publicity material, course advertising, site tours, email enquiries, volunteer bookings and computer systems as part of the EPF/Admin remit, and demonstrate low-impact initiatives and coordinate the running of the household side of the project for SL. This includes everything from developing food policy, ethical/seasonal buying for the project, bread making, food preservation (jams, chutney etc. from our own crop), and olive curing, making up/decorating rooms for new arrivals etc. etc. In my free time, I’ve started to make a collection of instruments from local materials including agarve didgeridoos, caña (bamboo) flutes and have plans to make an agarve drum too if the trunk base ever dries out. Dude (AT James) and I successfully completed Project 100 last year and currently have plans to run a sponsored marathon later this year on behalf of Sunseed. We may even get round to watching The Big Lebowski sometime…

What I enjoy most about Sunseed and the village more widely is the potential and resources it offers. We live in a beautiful valley with extraordinarily talented and knowledgeable people who are passionate about experimenting, learning and sharing. The environment and climate largely dictate how we live and for me are the greatest teachers. Practically and personally, I’ve learnt more during my time here than during any other period of my life. The sense of community is strong and supportive and I feel extremely privileged to be part of it.

I’ve becoming increasingly interested in permaculture since I’ve been here, and when it’s time to leave, have plans to pursue a timber framing apprenticeship based on these principles.Robert Foxcroft 's Blog(EPF and SL Co-Coordinator)201015th JanuarySome staff and volunteers go to visit the Solar Platform in Tabernas

30th JanuaryBike repairing workshop and awareness about CO2 and climate change with the Parents of Students Association (AMPA) from Sorbas

6th MarchOpen Day (quiz game, general tour of the project)

AprilHigh School Abdera Class from Adra visits Sunseed and the Timbe Pita Museum

8th - 9th MayOrganic Permacultural Gardening Course

MayHosted AFESMO mental health association group during a weekend

21st JuneVisit and workshop with a High School from Roquetas, together with Timbe Pita Museum (AT tour, Gardens tour and workshop about making natural toothpaste)

AugustParticipation in the public presentation Jornadas Sorbas en Red (presentation of the websites they are designing, included Sunseed's Spanish one from Ayuntamiento de Sorbas)

9th - 10th SeptemberParticipation in the Spanish Ecovillages Network (RIE) annual meeting in Lucainena de las Torres, at Cortijo Los Baños since Sunseed is now part of this network. Organized stand with posters, leaflets, displays, information; workshop about "How to make a solar oven ULOG"

2nd - 3rd OctoberEcofair in Altea (Alicante): Sunseed stand, leaflets, posters and 2 solar cookers to take part in a solar cooker contest

9th - 12th OctoberThermal Mass Kachelofen (German stove) Course

21st OctoberOG and EPF coordinator go to a welcome fair- Jornada de Puertas Abiertas- to Almeria University, with Sunseed stand and information

25th - 27th MarchWeekend of Introduction to Sustainable Life, with activities in the gardens, recognize plants and herbs and their properties, prepare lotions and potions, bread making, walk in the valley, yoga

One of the year’s most powerful experiences began during the early morning hours of September 28th when southern Spain experienced the worst flood since 1973. Spain’s weather agency said up to 245 liters of water had fallen per square meter in the areas around us. With all this water the Rio Aguas lived up to its name and we saw it raise by at least 4 meters, raging with a turbid, brown torrent, that sadly also included a lot of garbage-debris from nearby settlements. The flood path looked cataclysmic, and with the pressure of water careening down the river we saw 20 years of caña over-growth ripped out from its roots freeing the river to be open again. Indeed, the event was tragic because 11 people died in Spain from the floods, and while we were affected by the deluge, we are so grateful no one here was injured. However, the scale of cleanup was massive; here in Los Molinos the river caused a landslide that knocked hundreds of cubic-meters of earth into our ancient-irrigation system. 20 volunteers spent two-weeks digging the channel by hand, which eventually allowed us to restore the luxury of running water to our village.

Today, it’s impossible not to see the mark of this rain storm wherever you look. Roads are still damaged, our river charts a new course, and we have a new deep, long swimming hole. Even the hills reaching far into the distance are a color green that we are amazed to see. We feel the power of nature from this event, and it’s the power of our group of people which held us through. It was a community effort here to clean up, an effort which allowed us to restore a sense of ordinariness here, and we celebrated all together here with a village dinner hosted by Sunseed.The Flood- 28th September 2012PhotosSunseed 's stall- Patricia and CassandraEcoAltea Workshop- October 2012Thermal Mass Stove- October 2012Tree planting at Aguarico (7 km from Sunseed)with a group of voluntarios ambientalesCompost toiletStaffAlzena Wilmot (Bio)Andrea Lee (EPF)Carol Biggs (Project Manager)Adrian Windisch (E&M)Donald Lunan (Bio Tanzania)StaffGeoff Beaumont (AT)Graham (Project Manager) andShirley Savage (Accounts)Jan Cliff (AT Trustee)John, gardenerMandy Burke (AT)StaffJosé Maria Torres (Drylands)James Curry (AT)Jona Aal (AT)Lara Marsh (Household)Mimi Prell (SL)Paul Smith & Emma Young(E&M)Rachel Alger (E&M)Rachel Harries (Household)Rik Humphreys (Gardens)Robert Foxcroft (EPF and SL)Sarah, cookSteve Lance (Gardens)Tamas Keszler (Drylands)Tim Eiloart, the altruistic pioneer, has died at the age of 72 following years of ill- health, latterly he was confined to a wheelchair. In his amazing life he was an entrepreneur, a journalist, started a Charity and took part in a record breaking transatlantic ballooning attempt to cross the Atlantic.He read chemical engineering at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was sent down midway through his degree because he joined a transatlantic balloon trip organised by his father, ‘Bushy’ Eiloart, the man who invented yeast facepacks. The attempt was in 1958, aboard the Small World, a balloon that had a gondola with a bicycle powered propellers. It is described in a 1959 book The Flight of the Small World. They managed to travel about 1,200 miles in ninety-four hours. Even more fortunately, their gondola was seaworthy and they finished up their journey afloat, reaching Barbados after the ten more days.

Tim returned to Trinity to complete his degree and, as soon as he graduated, founded number of companies, including Cambridge Consultants, with the idea of acting as an intermediary between the university and industry. Cambridge Consultants grew and grew, even Robert Maxwell wanted to invest, but Tim and his fellow consultants didn’t want him. Tim met Clive Sinclair through Mensa, Clive needed a base to assemble components and deal with mail order administration, Cambridge Consultants Ltd, run by Eiloart, provided this service. No sooner had the advertising appeared than the company was swamped by demand and the business began to snowball. Over the years they made a lot of money, and spawned many spin- outs which have gone on to make combined billions, but Tim ended up with nothing. He started other businesses, latterly with an emphasis on helping communities in the developing world. He was never much interested in making money for himself.

Since 1970 he has been a free-lance journalist and business correspondent for The New Scientist & Mensa Journal . He was the author of a book ‘Happier families: for babies children teenagers and parents’ by Tim Eiloart, Mary Eiloart & Penny Eiloart. He campaigned for the Green Party, and was a candidate several times including the General Election in Huntingdon in against John Major in 1983 and in Council Elections in Huntingdon till 2001. He worked with Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Rotblat and others who campaigned to warn the government about ecological crises.

I met Tim in 1999 when volunteering for Sunseed in Spain, he was a visiting Trustee and impressed everyone with his breadth of interests and energy. He had a stroke working late one night, fortunately I woke up and could call for help. He recruited me into becoming a trustee, he was himself a founding trustee. In 1984 he and his wife Mary were founder trustees of the Sunseed Trust, which they generously endowed and for which they both worked tirelessly for many years. Whether it was in the conception and development of new ideas in appropriate technology, or the grind of routine administration or accounting tasks, Tim and Mary could always be relied on to put heart and soul into whatever needed to be done..The low-cost adobe solar oven was one of Tim’s inventions. It led to Sunseed’s involvement in Tanzania, where the Sunseed Tanzania Trust continues to promote energy-effective smoke-free cookers and tree nurseries in villages and schools.One memory of Tim that some of us treasure – after suffering his stroke at Sunseed he was being taken to the ambulance on a trolley-stretcher, and was working out and explaining design improvements which could be made to the trolley to improve its performance on rough ground!

Tragically, Tim’s daughter Penny was lost at sea off the coast of Africa in 1998, she was 33.He suffered a stroke some years ago, and friends have suggested this was brought on by the stress involved in searching for Penny. He is survived by his wife Mary and 2 children.Altruistic Pioneer And Campaigner Passes Away Aged 72Posted by adrianwindisch in Sunseed Tim Eiloart Obituary, 21st March 2009Tim EiloartLara MarshLara Marsh obituaryThe Guardian, Monday 12 November 2012 15.02 GMT My daughter, Lara Marsh, who has died of motor neurone disease aged 37, lived passionately and inspired everyone she met with her enthusiasm, gift for friendship and commitment to people and planet.Born in Manchester, Lara went to Mount Carmel school, Alderley Edge, then Shena Simon sixth-form college in Manchester. After her A-levels, she volunteered with Project Trust in 1993 to teach English at Havana University, listing "socialising" among her many skills. Living in Cuba during the economic depression known as the Special Period changed her life; amid the weekly rations of carrots and tobacco, she formed many deep friendships.

Lara returned to Britain in 1994 to study history of the Americas at University College London, travelling to Merida University, Mexico, in 1996. By then, she had married Cristian Sanchez Gonzalez and they worked hard to fund trips to Cuba, with Lara also volunteering for environmental and human rights organisations. On graduating with a first in 1998, she worked as a campaigner for the World Development Movement, and for Tourism Concern, presenting the case for fair trade tourism internationally, including at the United Nations.

When her marriage ended in 2002, Lara went to Sunseed, a sustainable education community in southern Spain, working as the sustainable living co-ordinator. It was here that she met Jona Aal. They cycled home while Lara was pregnant in 2004 to live in a wooden cabin with a wind turbine and compost toilet in Northumberland.

Their daughters, Cala and Nancy, were born in the cabin, in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Lara adored being a mother and sharing experiences of motherhood. She led a parent-and-child group, forest play sessions and seasonal Steiner celebrations for children. As the girls grew, Lara's part-time work included researching the ethics of loans to fair trade producers for local food networks for the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The family moved to the North Pennines in 2009 and later to the Burnlaw community.

Out of the blue, Lara was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011. She faced this bravely and with great dignity. She married Jona in May 2012 and their solid and loving partnership, along with daily joy in their daughters, sustained them both. The celebration of Lara's life at Burnlaw was attended by more than 200 people from around the world and was a testament of love, respect and admiration for a fun, generous and principled woman.Lara is survived by Jona, Cala, Nancy and me.

Hazel Morley (EPF)Zena Wilmot (Bio)Cassie Lynch (SL)Debra Smith (Household)Sunseed Desert Technology aims "to find and spread ways to alleviate poverty and improve the environment of people living in areas suffering desertification"The patio- screen of vines growing up frame, water butts2013Sunseed aims "to offer hands-on training to develop and share accessible solutions for volunteers in low-impact living and environmental stewardship and to learn together how to demonstrate and communicate accessible skills and low-tech methods that support a more ecologically responsible way of life"Jan Cliff, secretaryZelda Levy, bookkeeperJyoti Tyler, Accounts and Administration

What is your name and when did you first come to Sunseed?I'm Nick Pasiecznik and I came here first two years after Sunseed was founded, in 1988, and I began very soon after the beginning of tree-planting.So Sunseed was originally founded here, as Green Desert Technology, in 1986, when there was a house here, that was bought as a holiday home by somebody involved at that time in what was then known as the Rainbow Camp. And they were following on, one of the original founders, Steve Samson, and he was involved in one of the first ever Glastonbury, I guess in 1974. So this is going back to the very origin of the Festival Movement.And there were others involved at that time, too: Harry Hart was a great mind behind this.So one had this house here, and said: "I could offer it, in some ways", because I was talked then that this movement could do something better. And with the drought in Ethiopia, Africa, in the '80, maybe we could look into something more sustainable. And there were several in those that saw the desert as the way for it: ¾ of the world is desert, so therefore should we not concentrate on developing the desert land. And I think it was Voltaire, but it might have been another philosopher, that stated: "Mankind treads on a forest and leaves a desert in its footprint". And this concept, particularly around the Mediterranean but everywhere else... this is what we have done. So could we turn it back?So the concept was that could we use this approach and help to solve the problems in the desert? So this house was there for said: "Ok, you could have it, but we'll give you half of the house", and then from the money raised in these camps they bought the other half. And the project was begun.For two years the infrastructure was set up and this concept was developed, of having volunteers who would pay something. But it was, in the early stages, much more "spiritual": it was more the idea of a community life, and how to show people from Europe, that there was a different way of living, in the concept of the hippie commune. And some concepts were difficult, like: would people like to go to the toilet in public view? And people found that quite difficult to do. But still, the general approach was living together, eating together, sharing and working together, for no personal gain.And after two years I came, and they were starting to do some research on the trees. I came as a forester, Dryland agro-forester, to do the tree-planting. I was Coordinator of the Dryland Forestation, tree-planting programme. Also, at that time there was no gardener, so at one point I was also the Gardens Coordinator and the Building Coordinator, and that worked well.So many staff came through and were for periods.

How long have you been here for?I came for two months in the summer of 1988 and then I came for two weeks in the autumn of '88; two weeks over the winter '88-'89, at Easter two weeks and I came back in June '89 for another 14-16 months, and left in 1990.I came back only for a few days in '91 and that was it: I've never been back since.

- See "The Tree Scene" preface (1990) -

And I say, from this date now, 23 years after that was written, that I see that has happened. From our walk this morning, some of those trees have survived. Many people I had known have developed carriers in dryland, forestry and social aspects. They passed through Sunseed: it is where, in English we say "you would cut your teeth", like a baby that pushes the first teeth. This is the first experience and it's provided, I would say, thousands of people over the years in that initial experience.

So the initial goal of Sunseed was reforestation; there was this idea to "make deserts green", as the first name was "Green Desert Technology"Green Desert started in the early '80 from the Rainbow Camp Movement and originally it was in Sudan, and there is a book about one of the early Green Desert's pioneers, who wrote a book called "The Threatening Desert". They went to Sudan to plant some trees: some projects worked, some failed. But they had a terrible disaster: they were trying to bring in a Landrover to help with the tree-planting- they needed a vehicle- and they demanded baksheesh. The bakshees that was suggested was whiskey, and whiskey was supplied, but whether it was a set-up or not, the government and the customs were immediately there, found the whiskey- importing into Sudan is illegal- and the project was thrown up, and the whole thing collapsed at that point. That's the story I've heard.Then from there they thought: "Maybe it's better to start closer to home", which is why Spain and Almeria, as the driest part of mainland Europe, was chosen.But it wasn't just tree-planting: there was of course appropriate technology and the lifestyle choice to reduce the impact. It wasn't the carbon footprints then: we didn't have the concept of the carbon footprints in the '80.And appropriate building techniques, it has always been vegetarian- I think it was also completely vegan while I was there- the river was always naturist. It was always a very open place sexually, smoking of drugs- cannabis- drinking... a generally hippie lifestyle. But never too much: there was no hard drugs, there was never anything excessive. And it worked, it really worked. And in the time I've seen since it has stayed the same. It stayed the same size: we were at that point up to 10 staff and up to 40 volunteers.What about the compost toilet?Yes, we had them. The original one was just the simple "long-drop": a hole in the huerta, 1 metre wide 2 metres deep, with a panel over the top and a hole in it. When it filled up you took it off and you started a new one. That was the original system, and then they tried different forms of composting. After the long-drop, the first one I remember from early '89 was one behind the Main House: there were long-drops there before, but directly into 200 litre barrels; so once the 200 litre barrel was full, it was sealed and put away for one year, in the direct sun to heat up. And then it became wonderful manure, absolutely wonderful stuff: no smell, perfect. Steve had this concept, that people should learn to do the toilet in public, and that was very difficult for most volunteers: he would not put the door on the toilet. There was so much revolution about that, that in the end he had to relent.And he did a certain thing: in some ways I don't disapprove when on Saturday morning there would be the trip town to market. He would stand people up and have a dress code, because Sorbas was not like today: Sorbas was a very old, conservative, franco-andalucian town. So none of these high shorts or short skirts or showing up the shoulders... none of this was allowed. If you want to go to town, he would send you back, to get your T-shirt on, to get longer shorts or a longer skirt... he was very strict, but I'm not totally against that, you could see his desire not to offend the local population. He said: "If you wanna swim in the nude in the river, that's fine, you are away from people. But when you go to town and you are the interface, please show some respect." Because eccentric British people didn't have this concept, and he was right, I think, in these ideas.But in the first summer, summer '88, there was already revolt against that as well. People didn't like that. So it became more open, and then I think began this local opinion of this "bunch of hippies".

Did you work in the morning and in the afternoon?Generally it was a four-hour working day, that was generally eight to twelve. For the tree-planting work we would sometimes start earlier, because it was just too hot and too high. We would set off earlier and also sometimes we would split shifts and even do morning and evening.But there was this bizarre habit: you would have almost this twin two-twelve-hour days and it was quite bizarre: you work until two, then you sleep from two until six, work from six and eight and go to bed at two o'clock in the morning. So you sleep from two until six a.m. and p.m. You have these repeating twelve-hour days: it was very bizarre, but with lots of sleeping, splashing around and enjoying yourself down by the river in the afternoon.About Harry HartAllow me to repeat the words from the great Harry Hart, who believed that the Drylands would have saved the world: the co-founder Harry Hart was 60 then, when I knew him in 1988. He had a bizarre business in making what you could call "carpet-bags": you get old carpets and make them into bags- handbags, shoulderbags... and they became fashionable items, really trendy things. But he was originally a film-maker and he said he did some work with the military in his early days and filmed the British atomic bomb explosions in the South Pacific, he was on the ship. And that's when he changed. He said that he could just not believe this, and he went completely vegan and then macro-biotic. And he claimed then he was the only survivor of any of the people on those ships. He believed that veganism and then macro saved his life. He was one of the original hippies: it goes back to the 40s, the post-war period, the idea of sustainable movements. This is where sustainable agriculture comes from. He thought the drylands were the answer, but also he was a seedsaver and a zen macrobiotic vegan. He also had no Solanaceae family, so no tomatoes- tomatoes were poisonous- potatoes were poisonous, but the worst were aubergines. Aubergines were desperately poisonous: this is proper zen macrobiotic, because it's the deadly nightshade family. They poison your mind or your spirit, in some ways. He had all these concepts, but his principal one was on the power of change and the need of change. So at twenty years old he said: "I want to do something", and he had his own lifestyle. Can you imagine, in the 1950s? People thought he was completely crazy. He became the sandal-wearing, long haired, woolly-jumpered hippie. And people thought he was mad... then the 60s arrived and people became more interested, but it was only because of people like him, who had started in the 50s, that I think sowed some seeds that were allowed to grow in the 60s, that then evolved into the Camps in the 70s. He always said: "The first stage is awareness, make people aware of the mess, the problems we are going through."And then it was only in the late 80s, when I met him, that he said: "Thank God, I think now, after forty years I've been doing this I am no longer a complete weirdo. People actually are aware that what I'm doing is right. Awareness, stage one: complete! Now we go onto stage two: impact.""So" he said "Sunseed is here: it is to your generation that we pass on this idea for you to now do something about it. But don't expect to see any change until you are sixty years old and grey like me. Things happen inexorably slowly." And that's something I've always held.So when you come here at twenty years old, as many people do, or around that time, there is this great energy, the feeling you can change the world tomorrow or in a year, or in two years. I've seen so many people come through and try to do it for a while, and in the end work in a television factory doing a normal job. But no, it's this idea of persevering with a lifestyle, believe in something, carrying it through in everything you do, professionally or otherwise for your whole life. And then it takes 40 years to maybe see the change. So I'm hopeful: 25 years later, there is another fifteen years left and I'm hoping that when I'm sixty, like Harry Hart was when I met him, I am hoping for the impact stage to be finished. And now we can get on to spreading the success. So this is my hope, and I'm so happy to see Sunseed still sowing those seed into people and spreading that. It was an English project at the beginning, so were there only English people?Yes, that has been one of the great developments. It was almost entirely English, eccentric, hippie, commune, with very few other Europeans and certainly no Spanish involvement at all. It was English to the core.